USA > Iowa > Monroe County > The history of Monroe County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion > Part 48
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The broadest mass of covered light was visible on the left (in the southwest quarter). This sprung from an arc of about fifty degrees on the moon's circum- ference to a height of three digits, or 234,000 miles. This mass was more dif- fused than either of the others, and separated near the extremity into narrow leaflets of light, something like the flame from a thinly spread bed of coals, only there was no red, the light being pure white, with a faint coruscation. Opposite to this, on the right, was another leaf-spread mass of four digits in height, on a basis of twenty to twenty-five degrees, and like a parabola in general outline, which was, however, broken up on the outer side into jets. Another broad sheet sprung up on the northeast, toward the zenith, nearly rectangular in shape, and three to four digits high, the upper third part being divided irregularly into tongues of light, formed by assemblages of rays. Between these large masses the circumference of the lunar orb was filled up by radiate lines of brilliant light, extending on an average a digit and a half in height, or 125,000 miles from the sun's surface. It was noticeable that this continuous band was the narrowest on the lower left-hand side (southwest by south), averaging about two-thirds of the width elsewhere, and was badly broken on its entire outline, as if the regularity were interfered with by the action of the string of bead-like protuberances jutting up through the interior portion of its volume.
The full amount of this irregularity was not perceptible with the naked eye, but the general distribution of long and short rays was the same. To the unaided vision the narrower portions of the corona were visible and bright ; but the tongue-like extensions faded out into nothingness, whereas the telescope gave a definite outline all around, except at the summit of the first-named pro- trusion. The apparent color of the protuberances was a pinkish red. The instant that the last film of light had vanished, leaving the sun in utter darkness, and simultaneously with the out-flash of the corona, the line of pro- tuberances on the south limb burst into view. Soon after the western edge of
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the moon had advanced sufficiently to uncover the protuberances on that side, and the four largest remained distinctly visible till the last glimmer of light was visible, when they vanished with the corona, leaving the world in the deep darkness of total eclipse. A moment passed, and those occupying elevated positions could see the shadow of approaching darkness moving toward them swiftly as the ripples are raised on a placid lake by a Summer breeze, but awful, intense and terrible-fearful as a procession of spirits in the lower circle of the "Inferno." A few seconds of expectancy and the light was gone. It was an interval of absolute silence and of total darkness; for the eyes of the observer had been contracted by the rays of the sun, and needed two or three seconds to dilate sufficiently to distinguish any object whatever. Nothing ter- restrial could be seen, the darkness was too great; but by looking upward the stars could be noticed to creep out, one by one, until over a dozen could be dis- cerned with the naked eye.
THE HANGING OF GARRETT THOMPSON.
Every new country is infested more or less with desperate men. Those who prey upon society find a wider field in which to operate if they are removed from the more thoroughly organized judiciary systems. When the war broke out, this county was troubled by a class of men who dwelt upon the borders of secessiondom and committed depredations on loyal, peace-loving citizens. A tragic event occurred in 1866, when society was still demoralized, which was but the natural result of a long forbearance, until submission to outrage had ceased to be virtue. Lynch law is terrible to contemplate, but there are cir- cumstances under which the introduction of summary punishment seems almost warrantable. The tragedy which forms the topic of this chapter is one which is still fresh in the minds of many in the county. The following account of the affair is taken from the Albia Union, of June 7, 1866, and is said to be as nearly correct as it is possible to relate such a story. At all events, it is prob- able that the account here reproduced is more accurate than any sketch pre- pared to-day would be. The Union says :
" Our town and county, during the past week, have been the theater of an intense excitement, owing to the capture of a supposed band of horse thieves and the summary execution of the ringleader by the Vigilance Committee. It is due the public that a correct statement of the whole transaction should be given, and we, therefore, shall attempt to give the plain, truthful and un- varnished facts as they occurred.
" It will be remembered that, three or four years ago, horse-stealing began to be of more frequent occurrence than formerly, so much so that many of the farmers owning horses then organized a Vigilance Committee for the pursuit and arrest of horse thieves and evil-doers, which seemed to have a salutary effect for a considerable time. During the last year, however, horse-stealing and various other crimes have been on the increase, and within the last few months, has been carried on to such an extent, and with such brazen-faced impunity, that it became apparent that something must be done for the public safety, and the subject began to be agitated; but as the people of Monroe County are pre- eminently a law-abiding and long-suffering people, no action had been taken by the society.
"On the night of the 13th ultimo, Mr. James McFadden had a span of very fine horses stolen, for which he had refused $425 ; and on the night of
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the 16th, Mr. Woodruff was robbed of about ninety dollars in money ; and on the night of the 17th, Mr. E. B. Bill had a horse stolen, together with a horse belonging to Benjamin Asbury, and saddles and bridles from Mr. R. Buchanan, on the same night. But a short time previous, a wagon was stolen from Mr. Joseph Bone. Immediately after the stealing of the last-named horses, members of the above-mentioned committee were dispatched in pursuit, covering all points of the compass, with directions to ride two days, and if any trail was discovered, the party finding it should pursue to the end of the trail, making every possible, exertion to capture the thieves, and, if possible to recover the stolen horses.
" One of the pursuing parties fell upon the trail half-way from Albia to Blakesburg, and, by an intricate and difficult way, succeeded in tracing them through by roads as far as one and a half miles east of Troy, in the western part of Van Buren County, in this State, at which point all further efforts to discover their route failed. The description given of one of the thieves seemed to point to Garrett Thompson, a suspicious character living about four miles west of Blakesburg. It was also ascertained that he was absent from home at the time the horses were stolen, and returned home on the following Tuesday night, making an absence of seven days, and bringing with him a new wagon, which he reported he had taken on an old debt, and about which he gave sev- eral conflicting statements, as well as having taken an unusual method of con- veying the same home. It was also ascertained in the neighborhood from which he recently moved to this county that he had the reputation of being a noted horse thief, murderer, house burner, and leader of an organized band of horse thieves and outlaws. Hence suspicion rested strongly upon him.
" It was also ascertained that a daughter of his-Mrs. Ellen Ellis-accom- panied the thieves and wagon stolen from Mr. Joseph Bone to the house of Mr. Mc Williams, at a place bearing the euphonious name of 'Possum Hollow,' in Missouri. Mrs. Ellis has the reputation of being a lewd and abandoned woman, as well as an expert horse thief.
" Upon a return of the pursuers, a meeting of the Vigilance Committee was called, at which meeting about sixty substantial farmers, and among the very best of the citizens of our county, were present. This Committee appointed eight of its number, and a Director or Chairman, to look after certain suspicious persons, among whom was included the above-named Garrett Thompson. They were also instructed, if they deemed it advisable, to make arrests, and, if nec- essary, to call upon other members of the Committee to assist in making the arrests. And knowing of the many thefts of horses within the county that had occurred within the last fourteen months, not one of the thieves had been arrested and punished by the civil law, the Committee thought it advisable to hold any prisoners in their custody until further consultation.
" An adjournment of the Committee was made to last Saturday, the 1st day of June. After investigation and consultation, the persons appointed with power to make arrests determined to operate on Friday night last. Accordingly, they called upon sufficient numbers and proceeded to arrest Garrett Thompson, Thomas Smith, Harrison Gibson, John Hull, Hiram Hull, and two brothers of the name of Hill, the two last-named residing in Blakesburg, just over the line in Wapello County. Thompson was arrested on Friday morning, near Blakes- burg, as he was attempting to escape from the county on his way to Missouri, having got information as to the action of the Vigilance Committee. Thomas Smith was arrested on Friday night, at the house of one Petty, in the outskirts of Albia. He attempted to escape, and ran for some distance ; but was brought to by several pistol shots aimed at him.
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" The prisoners were then all marched out to a place near the residence of William Stoops, on Avery Creek, to a small valley bounded on one side by a skirt of timber, through which passes a small and beautiful creek. When this was accomplished, couriers were sent to notify all the members of the Committee. and also all good citizens, especially farmers, of what had transpired up to this time, and requesting their presence for counsel.
" At daylight next morning, the people of the county began to arrive, and also the merchants, attorneys and citizens from Albia, and continued coming until one or two o'clock in the afternoon, at which time the crowd numbered about five hundred people. When the vast assembly had come together, the person who had been selected by the Vigilance Committee to make the arrest, came forward and called the attention of the people, informing them that the prisoners had been arrested and were on the ground ; that his duties had been performed, and that he felt himself released from all further responsibility. only as a citizen. After electing a chairman, the sense of the meeting was taken, which unanimously voted for selecting twelve good men to hear the testimony in regard to the prisoners. The twelve men were then chosen. A Marshal was also appointed, who was instructed to preserve order and remove any suspi- cious persons who might be present. It appeared, however, that there were none. He was then directed to remove all boys from off the ground, and to allow no profane language or disorderly conduct.
" The jury was then called, and the witnesses and the prisoner, Garrett Thompson, were brought forward ; the testimony was heard and the prisoner's statement was made. Questions were put to the witnesses and the prisoner by the Foreman of the jury.
" The jury then retired, and after mature and dispassionate deliberation, brought in a verdict of 'Guilty of horse-stealing and other outrages, viz. : house-burning and murder.'
" The verdict being publicly read by the Foreman to the vast concourse of people, was quietly received, with as little outward demonstration as a verdict of a jury before any civil court. The audience was then seated, and a motion was made that the prisoner, Garrett Thompson, be hanged by the neck till dead.
" The motion was amended to simply tar and feather, which being briefly debated and the amendment withdrawn, the original motion was carried in the affirmative, only one person voting in the negative out of about three hundred voters. An Executive Committee of ten was appointed to notify the prisoner of the sentence, and twenty minutes allowed him to confess or make known his re- quests, ete. ; the Committee went in discharge of that duty.
" Forty minutes were given him and he made no confession, under the im- pression, no doubt, that the Committee would release him at last, as had been done before. A scaffold was then ereeted under a tree, and he was brought and placed upon it. He then requested that his body might be given over to his family, and denied any guilt of crime. The entire audience then uncovered their heads in the most solemn and impressive manner, and a most fervent and impressive prayer was offered to Almighty God.
" The rope was adjusted round his neck. Then the other prisoners were brought to the place to witness the execution, and when the fatal moment had come the prisoner said he did ' kill one man.' A moment, and the soul of Gar- rett Thompson was launched into eternity.
" During all this time the most perfeet order and decorum were preserved- no railing or indignity was offered to any of the prisoners, and none would for a moment have been permitted. Thus, in mid-air, in silence, hung the leader
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of a dangerous compact of criminals, as a solemn warning to his associates in crime.
" The remaining criminals were remanded back to the custody of their guards. Committees were appointed to wait upon each prisoner and take any statements and confessions they might choose to make, and after an examination they were all discharged except Thomas Smith, but not without strong suspicion resting upon some of them, though not sufficient evidence could be obtained to hold them.
" The body of Thompson was delivered over to his family, who had by this time arrived on the ground with a wagon. His son, a hopeful youth of about 17, threatened revenge. and said some of the company were 'marked ' men henceforth. He is a promising candidate for the gallows, sooner or later, and mixes up the most blasphemous oaths with his other words in about the ratio of three oaths to one word.
" Smith, who is regarded as a very dangerous and bad man, took matters very coolly, and even jested during the execution of his comrade in crime. He, however, made a partial confession, and was retained in custody upon the con- dition that his life would be spared if he would honestly divulge all he knew in relation to horse stealing in our county.
" The President of the Vigilance Committee appointed a meeting for the society at the Court House in Albia, at 1 o'clock P. M., Monday, June 4th, when Smith was again brought before it, and made some important depositions in regard to his course of conduct in the thieving business. He was ironed and turned over to the civil authorities to be tried by due course of law.
" We now hope to have some respite from the almost nightly depredations of this marauding band of outlaws, if this terrible warning has its intended effect. For the last two or three months, no man who owned a good horse could lie down at night with any certainty of finding him in the stable in the morning, and indeed his horses were the subject of his first waking thought in the morn- ing. And the fact that in every case they escaped with their booty, and being so well organized as to thwart all efforts to bring them to justice, encouraged and prompted them to act with impunity, which so exasperated the community as to bring on the extreme measures just witnessed in our midst. Let not peo- ple who are not cognizant of the facts, say that these transactions were controlled by a wild, fanatical and irresponsible mob violence, for such was not the case. The men who controlled the whole movement were among our very best, most moral, upright, law-abiding citizens. It was simply the stern resolve of an out- raged community to right the most grievous wrongs which the law failed to reach."
It is said that the statement concerning the erection of a scaffold is inaccu- rate. One informant says that a wagon was used. However, this is a question of no special moment.
The action of the Vigilantes naturally produced considerable comment. Newspapers took up the theme and enlarged upon the enormity of the deed. In vindication of those who participated in the affair, the Union, under date of June 14, 1866, published the following editorial :
The Hawk-Eye of Saturday, the 9th inst., comes out in a leader reflecting in somewhat severe terms upon the course pursued by the Vigilance Committee, and which course was indorsed by the citizens of Monroe County, in regard to the execution of the horse thief, murderer and rebel bushwhacker, Garrett Thompson.
Now, we feel no spark of unkindness toward the editor of the Hawk-Eye on account of his strictures, for it is expected of editors that they should always wield their pens in the defense of morality and right, and against what might seem to them as acts of lawlessness when legal means should have been used.
ยท
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But we beg leave to assure our friend of the Hawk-Eye that there is not a more intelligent, more orderly or law-abiding community in the State of Iowa, than the citizens of Monroe County ; and no act would have been further from their thoughts and desires than the hanging of that wicked man, had it been possible to bring him to justice in any other way. He had been driven out of Missouri, as he alleged himself, no doubt for the commission of the darkest crimes, as he acknowledged himself to be a murderer.
lle went from there to Keokuk County, and was there considered a horse thief and rebel bushwhacker ; driven thence, he located in a suspicious locality in this county, and continued to pursue his course of crime. In all his proceedings, so adroit was he in his nefarious business that no sufficient proof could be brought against him to bring him to justice by civil process.
Under such circumstances, what could the people of Monroe County do otherwise than what they did, except to turn the accomplished villain loose again to prey upon society, or to drive him out of the county to be a curse npon other localities.
The Hawk-Eye's lecture upon the subject of ethics is good-sounds beautiful in theory, but under aggravated circumstances, such as the people of this county have experienced, his beauti- ful theory fails in practice-not because our laws are not good or our officers are not efficient men, but simply because the criminal transactions of organized bands of midnight outlaws are so secret in their operations and so systematized that it is next to an impossibility to get suffi- cient legal proof to convict them.
The same issue contained the following notice of the proceedings of the Committee :
"The Vigilance Committee is surely yet silently operating to bring to jus- tice or exterminate from the community, the extensive gang of horse thieves and other scoundrels who have, for the last six months, rioted in a carnival of crime to the terror of all good citizens. After the execution of Garret Thomp- son, followed by the confession of Thomas Smith, the Committee met on the following Monday, the 4th, at which meeting a committee was appointed from the society, with discretionary powers to make arrangements for overtaking and recovering stolen horses, etc.
"A note was presented and read at the meeting from some citizens of Orleans, a small town in Appanoose County, near the State line, and from the information given in the note it was deemed advisable to arrest and bring before the Vigilance Committee two notorious and suspicious persons named David Marney and John Foster, who were living in the vicinity of Orleans. Three persons were detailed from the society to make arrests, and in pursuance of their instructions started on Monday evening, arriving at Orleans on Tues- day evening, at which place they were advised that the two men spoken of had been seen near Drakeville about the middle of May last, riding strange horses and were going up Fox Creek westward.
" After satisfying themselves of the truth of this by a conversation with the parties seeing them, they determined upon making the arrests, and proceeded on the night of Wednesday of last week to arrest David Marney and John Foster. They were soon surrounded by suspicious looking persons, friends of the arrested parties, but no demonstrations were offered. Immediately after the arrest the prisoners were taken to the hotel, where they were kept in cus- tody until next morning, when twenty or more of the responsible citizens of the county came forward volunteering their services as an escort to assist in bringing them up to the Vigilance Committee of this county. Preparations being made, the prisoners were placed on horseback and arrived that night at a point adjacent to the residence of William Stoops. A rain-storm being appre- hended, the prisoners were conducted to private residences in the vicinity and guarded through the night.
" The next morning, the citizens having been notified, began to arrive at an early hour, and by 10 o'clock, A. M., hundreds were upon the ground. ' The prisoners were then delivered over by the parties who had arrested them to the Vigilance Committee. The audience appointed a Chairman, after which a motion
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was made and carried that a committee of three be appointed to confer with each prisoner separately, and to take their confessions, with instructions to as- sure the prisoners that if they confessed fully all their thefts, and also the par- ticulars connected with them, and the persons associated with them in crime, they should be released to the civil authorities, to stand their trial by due course of law.
"The committees entered upon a discharge of their duties, and in about an hour returned, having obtained their confessions. The confessions were then read to the audience, except the names of the parties implicated, which were withheld from the public for obvious reasons. The prisoners confessed to the stealing of twenty or thirty horses, and also to the stealing of three or four hundred sheep.
" A committee was then appointed to conduct the prisoners to the Sheriff of Davis County, with a copy of their confessions.
"John Hull, who had been arrested with Garret Thompson, but released for want of evidence to commit him, was again sent for by a committee, and when brought before it, acknowledged having called for nitric acid in company with Harry Gibson, who paid for it, and that they gave it to Garret Thompson, and with which he probably burned the foreheads of a black mare three years old, and a sorrel horse of the same age, which had been taken up by Mr. Selby, of Urbana Township, and which were supposed to have been stolen, and after- ward turned loose by Garret Thompson's son. The horses were present on the ground, and we are informed that their foreheads had been horribly burned by the application of nitric acid, or some other preparation, for the purpose of disfiguring them. They were fine and valuable horses. After being further interrogated on some minor matters, Mr. Hull was released.
"The audience then raised a purse for the purpose of defraying the expense of taking the prisoners to Bloomfield, and adjourned.
" We believe it is the stern and inflexible intention and determination of the Vigilance Committee to thoroughly investigate and break up this foul nest of midnight marauders and horse thieves, at any cost; and from what we know of the character of the men having the business in charge, we are confident it will be done. Our farmers and others owning good horses are tired of sleep- ing every night in their stables, with their fire-arms by their sides, to guard their property."
It will be remembered that the men John and Hiram Hull, who were arrested at the same time with Thompson, were released, from lack of evidence by which to convict them as his accomplices. Tom Smith was retained, upon confessing his guilt and promising such revelations as should enable the author- ities to discover and apprehend other guilty parties. He was taken to Wapello County and placed in jail, and after an incarceration of about two months sig- nified that he was ready to give some information. Consequently, Mr. E. M. Bill, Isaac Watson and A. M. Giltoner visited him in jail, where they received the following statements, which investigation proved to be true : Smith said that the Hulls were horse thieves, the most active and dangerous of the band, and that he could assist them in finding some of their booty. Thomas Foster, who lived within a half mile of the Hulls, had had a fine team of mares stolen. These, Smith said, were down in Missouri, near where D. P. Clay and Jake Hull had fled and were living. Foster went there and found his horses, as was stated, after their absence of between one and two years. He also told the Committee of many other like cases, which they traced up and found to be true.
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